Field AssignmentField Assignment

Sarah BeachSarah Beach

Geol 3Geol 3

November 17, 2011November 17, 2011

Three RiversThree Rivers (Kaweah River) (Kaweah River)36°20′12″N36°20′12″N 119°13′23″W119°13′23″W  

• Kaweah River (Three Rivers) Kaweah River (Three Rivers) runs 32 miles west from the runs 32 miles west from the foot hills of the Sierra foot hills of the Sierra Nevada’s into the Central Nevada’s into the Central Valley.Valley.

• The rivers, and their forks, The rivers, and their forks, flow through The Sequoia flow through The Sequoia National Forest, the rivers National Forest, the rivers then meet in Lake Kaweah.then meet in Lake Kaweah.

• The Rivers and Lake Kaweah The Rivers and Lake Kaweah are in the valley or what is are in the valley or what is known as the Foot Hills. known as the Foot Hills.

• All water flow is provided All water flow is provided from the Sierra Nevada from the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Mountains.

Where do these rivers start?Where do these rivers start?

• The Sierra Nevada The Sierra Nevada Mountain range goes from Mountain range goes from Nevada into California.Nevada into California.

• Runs roughly 400 miles Runs roughly 400 miles North to South.North to South.

• These mountains formed These mountains formed more than 100 million years more than 100 million years ago.ago.

• The earliest Granite found The earliest Granite found in these mountains started in these mountains started forming in the Triassic forming in the Triassic period.period.

• 4 million years ago they 4 million years ago they were exposed to glaciers, were exposed to glaciers, these glaciers eroded the these glaciers eroded the top exposing the granite. top exposing the granite. http://en.wikipedia.orghttp://en.wikipedia.org

Formation of RiversFormation of Rivers

• The rivers along with Lake The rivers along with Lake Kaweah were created over Kaweah were created over millions of years. This millions of years. This creation took place as creation took place as melting snow from the melting snow from the Sierra Nevada’s slowly Sierra Nevada’s slowly trickled down into a basin. trickled down into a basin. This water flow, over a great This water flow, over a great period of time, helped to period of time, helped to carve paths in the rock. This carve paths in the rock. This is why the rocks have such a is why the rocks have such a smooth appearance. The smooth appearance. The water eroded the rocks over water eroded the rocks over such a long time that they such a long time that they were able to become were able to become smooth. smooth.

Nonconformity- Geological Nonconformity- Geological Features Features

• The first hill on the left The first hill on the left is an example of is an example of nonconformity. nonconformity.

• Sedimentary rock was Sedimentary rock was deposited on top of deposited on top of already existing already existing igneous rock. igneous rock.

• These deposits of rocks These deposits of rocks on already existing on already existing rocks usually can point rocks usually can point to a long period or to a long period or erosion. erosion.

• Nonconformity can also Nonconformity can also be found in the Grand be found in the Grand Canyon. Canyon.

Principal of Lateral Principal of Lateral ContinuityContinuity• This is the idea that rocks This is the idea that rocks

that once were formed that once were formed together, but are now together, but are now separated, remain the separated, remain the same on either side of the same on either side of the separation. separation.

• This separation can be This separation can be caused by erosion, which is caused by erosion, which is one of the factors that one of the factors that formed Three Rivers. formed Three Rivers.

• Sediments can be taken Sediments can be taken away from this separation away from this separation and be deposited in other and be deposited in other locations such as a basin. locations such as a basin. http://en.wikipedia.orghttp://en.wikipedia.org

Interesting FeaturesInteresting Features

• The rock formations at The rock formations at Three Rivers is very Three Rivers is very interesting, they all seem to interesting, they all seem to have a band that runs have a band that runs through them. through them.

• This rock appears to have This rock appears to have foliation, a separation of foliation, a separation of minerals. minerals.

• This rock appears to be This rock appears to be Granite, and foliation can Granite, and foliation can appear in Granite. appear in Granite.

• Foliation forms when a Foliation forms when a frictional drag occurs frictional drag occurs between sticky magma and between sticky magma and the rock wall. the rock wall.

Plant lifePlant life

• CockleburCocklebur• ““CocklebursCockleburs ( (XanthiumXanthium))

are a genus of flowering are a genus of flowering plants in the family plants in the family Asteraceae, native to the Asteraceae, native to the Americas and eastern Asia”. Americas and eastern Asia”. http://en.wikipedia.orghttp://en.wikipedia.org

• This plant has become an This plant has become an invasive species, and it even invasive species, and it even threatens livestock, the threatens livestock, the seeds are poisonous and can seeds are poisonous and can make animals sick. make animals sick.

• Contrasting other members Contrasting other members of the Asteraceaes family, of the Asteraceaes family, this particular plant’s seeds this particular plant’s seeds are contained in a prickly are contained in a prickly pod. pod.

Scientific Classification of Scientific Classification of CockleburCocklebur• Scientific classification is used to put Scientific classification is used to put

species in groups of mutual descendents species in groups of mutual descendents and common ancestors. and common ancestors.

• Kingdom: Kingdom: PlantaePlantae• (unranked): (unranked): AngiospermsAngiosperms• (unranked): (unranked): EudicotsEudicots• (unranked): (unranked): AsteridsAsterids• Order: Order: AsteralesAsterales• Family: Family: AsteraceaeAsteraceae• Genus: XanthiumGenus: Xanthium

Plant LifePlant Life• Ipomoea (Morning Glory)• Ipomoea is the largest Genus

in the flowering plant family. • This particular flower is

usually grown as an ornamental plant.

• This flower and plant provides food for several different species such as the humming bird, caterpillars, and butterflies.

• The alkaline properties of this flower makes it less than appetizing to larger prey.

• These plants have been an important part of life for a long time because of their use in folk medicine.

Scientific Classification of the Scientific Classification of the

IpomoeaIpomoea

• Kingdom: Kingdom: Plantae

• (unranked): Angiosperms(unranked): Angiosperms

• (unranked): Eudicots(unranked): Eudicots

• (unranked): Asterids(unranked): Asterids

• Order: SolanalesOrder: Solanales

• Family: ConvolvulaceaeFamily: Convolvulaceae

• Tribe: IpomoeeaeTribe: Ipomoeeae

• Genus:Genus:Ipomoea

RocksRocks

• This particular rock was a little This particular rock was a little difficult to classify. I would say difficult to classify. I would say from all of the pictures I saw from all of the pictures I saw that this most resembles a that this most resembles a sample of banded Rhyolite.sample of banded Rhyolite.

• Rhyolite is an igneous, Rhyolite is an igneous, volcanic, rock.volcanic, rock.

• The bands come from the The bands come from the elements that are present in elements that are present in the volcanic material and their the volcanic material and their rates of cooling. rates of cooling.

• These rocks can also resemble These rocks can also resemble granite in certain situations. granite in certain situations.

• Rhyolite is a very common Rhyolite is a very common rock in The Rocky Mountains. rock in The Rocky Mountains.

RocksRocks

• QuartziteQuartzite• This rock is a metamorphic This rock is a metamorphic

rock which was originally rock which was originally Sandstone. Sandstone.

• Sandstone becomes quartz Sandstone becomes quartz through extreme heat, usually through extreme heat, usually related to tectonic plate related to tectonic plate movements. movements.

• The variation of coloring is The variation of coloring is based on the other minerals based on the other minerals and impurities present. and impurities present.

• This particular rock can be This particular rock can be used in many different used in many different applications and is also very applications and is also very common in The Rocky common in The Rocky Mountain region. Mountain region.

RocksRocks

• GraniteGranite• A very common igneous A very common igneous

rock.rock.• Usually a course texture Usually a course texture

with visible crystals.with visible crystals.• Granite is a wide spread Granite is a wide spread

rock, and it has several rock, and it has several applications for use. applications for use.

• Forms a major part of Forms a major part of the continental crustthe continental crust

• The color differences The color differences are due to minerals and are due to minerals and present impurities.present impurities.

SourcesSources

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaweah_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaweah_River• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartzitehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quartzite• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockleburhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocklebur• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipomoeahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipomoea• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhyolitehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhyolite• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foliation_%28geology%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foliation_%28geology%29• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granitehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granite• http://www.indiana.edu/~geol105b/images/gaia_chapter_6/http://www.indiana.edu/~geol105b/images/gaia_chapter_6/

unconformities.htmunconformities.htm• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principle_of_lateral_continuityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principle_of_lateral_continuity• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Nevada_%28U.S.%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Nevada_%28U.S.%29